| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at the other times to seek for omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness. | 1Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. |
| 2When Balaam lifted up his eyes, he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. | 2When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him |
| 3Then he uttered this oracle: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor; the oracle of the man whose eyes are open; | 3and he spoke his message: "The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly, |
| 4the oracle of the one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, although falling flat on the ground with eyes open: | 4the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened: |
| 5How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, and your dwelling places, O Israel! | 5"How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel! |
| 6They are like valleys stretched forth, like gardens by the river's side, like aloes that the LORD has planted, and like cedar trees beside the waters. | 6"Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters. |
| 7He will pour the water out of his buckets, and their descendants will be like abundant water; their king will be greater than Agag, and their kingdom will be exalted. | 7Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water. "Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted. |
| 8God brought them out of Egypt. They have, as it were, the strength of a young bull; they will devour hostile people and will break their bones and will pierce them through with arrows. | 8"God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them. |
| 9They crouch and lie down like a lion, and as a lioness, who can stir him? Blessed is the one who blesses you, and cursed is the one who curses you!'" | 9Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness--who dares to rouse them? "May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!" |
| 10Then Balak became very angry at Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but bless them these three times! | 10Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. |
| 11So now, go back where you came from! I said that I would greatly honor you; but now the LORD has stood in the way of your honor." | 11Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded." |
| 12Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, | 12Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, |
| 13If Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD to do either good or evil of my own will, but whatever the LORD tells me I must speak'? | 13Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD--and I must say only what the LORD says'? |
| 14And now, I am about to go back to my own people. Come now, and I will advise you as to what this people will do to your people in the future." | 14Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come." |
| 15Then he uttered this oracle: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor; the oracle of the man whose eyes are open; | 15Then he spoke his message: "The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly, |
| 16the oracle of the one who hears the words of God, and who knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, although falling flat on the ground with eyes open: | 16the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened: |
| 17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not close at hand. A star will march forth out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab, and the heads of all the sons of Sheth. | 17"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth. |
| 18Edom will be a possession, Seir, his enemies, will also be a possession; but Israel will act valiantly. | 18Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong. |
| 19A ruler will be established from Jacob; he will destroy the remains of the city.'" | 19A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city." |
| 20Then Balaam looked on Amalek and delivered this oracle: "Amalek was the first of the nations, but his end will be that he will perish." | 20Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message: "Amalek was first among the nations, but their end will be utter destruction." |
| 21Then he looked on the Kenites and uttered this oracle: "Your dwelling place seems strong, and your nest is set on a rocky cliff. | 21Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message: "Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a rock; |
| 22Nevertheless the Kenite will be consumed. How long will Asshur take you away captive?" | 22yet you Kenites will be destroyed when Ashur takes you captive." |
| 23Then he uttered this oracle: "O, who will survive when God does this! | 23Then he spoke his message: "Alas! Who can live when God does this? |
| 24Ships will come from the coast of Kittim, and will afflict Asshur, and will afflict Eber, and he will also perish forever." | 24Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus; they will subdue Ashur and Eber, but they too will come to ruin." |
| 25Balaam got up and departed and returned to his home, and Balak also went his way. | 25Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way. |
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